Gracee's Lifestyle Journal

Backbase, the global pioneer of Engagement Banking, announced the release of the APAC-focused Infobrief, "Accelerating Customer-Centric Transformation by Balancing Build and Buy - A Collaborative Approach Towards Sustainable Digital Banking Architecture." Developed by global market intelligence firm IDC, and commissioned by Backbase,  the in-depth report draws insights from 125 banks and 316 CIOs in APAC, including the Philippine market, and offers a regional perspective on digital transformation. The Infobrief challenges the long-standing default approach of building in-house solutions for digital engagement banking platforms, and finds that 65% of mid- to large-sized banks in APAC have opted to build their engagement banking platforms in-house to achieve digital transformation; however, 70% of these projects have failed due to costly and lengthy in-house efforts.  In the Philippines, the government recognizes the crucial need to speed up innovative digital transformation, e

While we can't always predict what lies ahead, having insurance coverage can provide a safety net when unexpected events occur. From delayed flights to medical emergencies, understanding the process of making insurance claims is essential for turning setbacks into manageable situations.  With a goal of “Insurance for All”, Igloo has made it its mission to not only provide affordable insurance products but also make filing claims easy and hassle-free.  From travel insurance like  Travel Master with COVID-19 , pet insurance like  Pet Insure , and MSME insurance like  NegosyoCare , Igloo and its partners offer Filipinos a wide variety of products that can suit their needs and all of them are available through multiple channels including the GCash GInsure marketplace. “At Igloo, we understand that unexpected events can disrupt lives and cause stress. This is why we’ve worked with our partners and utilized our technology to provide Filipinos easy access to microinsurance products – acce

Internet access has transformed from a convenience to a necessity in today’s digital age. With the rise of remote work, distant learning, e-commerce, and financial technology, internet connectivity is increasingly considered a fundamental right. Unfortunately, a report from the Department of Information, Communication, and Technology (DICT) indicated that  65%  of Filipinos still do not have internet access.  To bridge the digital divide, the Philippine government is advancing projects to narrow the gap in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). This effort involves welcoming a range of internet satellite providers to enhance accessibility in rural regions. This includes the launch of Starlink in February and upcoming market entry announcements from other key players, such as SES, Silkwave, and Astranis, all within the next two years.  Digital inclusion promises greater economic growth and opportunities in rural and underserved regions. Achieving this goal requires col

As some schools gear up to reopen, this means a fresh new year for students and an influx of fresh new expenses for parents, from transportation to school supplies to hefty tuition fees. When added all up, the numbers may look overwhelming, but there are ways to stay on top of your child’s school expenses.  Assess how much you will need to set aside for the entire school year. That amount could range from as low as P50,000 to as high as P500,000 depending on where your child is studying plus the uniforms, school supplies, books and other things that your child may need. Once you have pegged that amount, you can start saving a portion of your income to contribute to the education fund. As tuition fees can take up to 70 percent of the expenses, review the tuition packages in detail so that you’ll know what’s covered—some may already include the books, supplies, and other essentials. Coordinate with the school regarding the payment schedules and choose the option which works well with you

Coastal land reclamation is increasing and will continue to grow and be a popular urban strategy in places that experience urban growth.  This is according to a study, “Mapping 21st Century Global Coastal Land Reclamation,” that analyzed landsat satellite images from 2000 to 2020 to quantify spatial extent, scale, and land use of urban coastal reclamation of 135 cities globally with populations exceeding one million. Key findings indicate that 78% of these cities have turned to reclamation to create additional land, resulting in 253,000 hectares of new land, an area equivalent to Luxembourg. Land reclamation is the process of creating new land from the sea. It’s often used in places with scarcity of land and high population density for many purposes. From Western Europe and West Africa to the Middle East, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, these countries’ cities reclaim lands for port extension, residential/commercial, and industrial purposes aimed at creating tourist and green spaces. Ke

In line with the SM Green Movement, the SM group, through SM Foundation, recently established a rainwater harvesting system at the Brgy. Irawan Birthing Facility in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The initiative aims to strengthen their goal of preserving the environment and ensuring the health and wellness of future generations. To enhance water conservation and management in the facility, the system collects rainwater from the roof and gutter, passing it through vinyl-coated mesh filters to help ensure water quality. With an 800-liter storage capacity, the harvested water serves the facility’s non-potable needs like watering plants, cleaning, and toilet flushing. The rainwater harvesting facility also operates without electricity and features labeled faucets for intuitive recycled water use. Midwife Narcisa Jagmis, who leads the said birthing facility, said that the facility will help them reduce their reliance on the city’s water supply systems. “Mahalagang hindi kami nawawalan ng tu

SCPW president Arch. Celestino Ulep leads a discussion on nature-based architecture during the fourth SCPW Wetland Center Design Symposium. Photo from SCPW As the world celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity 2023, SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) joined the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc. (SCPW) hosted the fourth SCPW Wetland Center Design Symposium on May 29th at the MAAX Building in the Mall of Asia Complex. Bannering the theme "Build Back Biodiversity: Wetland Centers and Nature-Based Architecture," the hybrid symposium featured presentations centered on fostering knowledge and awareness about wetland conservation and innovative design approaches.  SCPW president Ar. Celestino Ulep leads the opening of the Wetland Center Design Symposium SCPW president Ar. Celestino Ulep opened the symposium by sharing his optimism on how collaboration and embracing nature-based architecture can pave the way towards creating a future where wetl

At the multi-stakeholder forum, “Towards a Greener Footprint”, in Iloilo City recently, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga shared solutions-focused guidelines to help the local government reduce carbon footprint, with emphasis on water conservation to address the looming water crisis and increase access to safe water and sanitation. From left to right: Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, journalist Ces Drilon, Secretary Loyzaga, urban planning and landscape architect Paulo Alcazaren, United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) co-chair Michaela Rossette Santo-Tayag and SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance Liza Silerio. Photo credits to Arnold Almacen/Iloilo City Office of the Mayor. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), one of the leading real estate developers in Southeast Asia, recently called on local public officials to avoid the extraction of groundwater and, instead, invest in rainwater collect

The uptick in both international and domestic travel continues as borders open up. More flights are becoming available, making it the perfect time to file vacation leaves, pack bags, and hop on a plane. However, while traveling is indeed fun, the possibility of getting sick during vacations can be quite daunting. To avoid that from happening, here are some tips to take note of before, during, and after your trips, to ensure there’s no stopping your much-awaited revenge travel. Before the trip Before hopping on the plane to your next destination, be sure that you’ve received your annual flu vaccination. It's ideal to get vaccinated at least two weeks before traveling, as it takes around the same amount of time for the body to develop immunity. As studies have shown, getting immunized greatly reduces the risk of contracting the flu, as well as the severity should you still get infected. “ Being in a new province or country also means greater exposure to various illnesses. Not to ment

REDEFINING ONE-STOP-SHOP PAYMENT SOLUTION: Executives of Bayad and Go VIP Center meet for the signing of the partnership   to provide customers with more bills payment options. Seen in the photo are (from L-R) Go VIP Center Chief Finance Officer Paul Wilson A. Gardon, Go VIP Center President and CEO Julie M. Estares, Bayad President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer, and Bayad Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer Dennis S. Gatuslao. Bayad, the pioneer brand in the outsourced payment collection system, has partnered with  Go VIP Center, a leading business solutions and financial services provider, to enable customers with more convenient ways to pay their bills. Under the partnership, more than 1,000 Go VIP payment centers can now accept bills payments for different utilities and government contributions including the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), PLDT, and Metro Manila Development Authority. The new feature is on top of the usual money transfer, remittance, airtime loading, delivery, a

Hexagon’s Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division and Fujitsu Limited today announced the joint development of digital twin applications for predicting and mitigating natural disasters and traffic accidents. The solutions reflect the two companies’ ongoing efforts to realize resilient, disaster-resistant cities based on a business alliance formed in June 2022.   To support disaster mitigation, the two companies are developing a prediction model that calculates the extent and impact of flooding from precipitation data, visualizes the extent of flooding and performs damage prediction analysis. Based on the analysis, cities can develop disaster response plans. To support traffic safety, the companies have focused on an application that identifies areas where heavy traffic and road design heighten the risk of accidents and proposes measures for improvement. The application would allow city planners and road administrators to develop safer, more resilient transportation networks. G